Street-sweeper



F; C. HOFFER AND J F. SMEDLEY STREET SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27,1917- RENEWED JAN- 3. I921.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET ruM F. C. HOFFER AND J F. SMEDLEY.

STREET SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27. m7. RENEWED JAN. 3,1921.

1,369,106. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

4 SfiEETS-SHEET 2.

A Ll/iWIl/ilfi rned F. C. HOFFER AND J F. SMEDLEY STREET SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-2h m1. RENEWED JAN. 3,1921.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- N s 2 r "x i 7 1 .m F65 .d/M

F. C. HOFFER 'AND J F.-SMEDLEY.

STREET SWEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27,1912. RENEWED JAN. 3, 1921.

mfl'wesses:

L w 0 I m gm 2 m wfiq d" Fm m I m P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' srnnnr-swnnrnn.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2 2, 1921.

Application filed January 27, 1917, .Serial No. 144,977. Renewed January 3, 1921. Serial No. 434,786.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRED C. Horrnn and J RANK SMEDLEY, both citizens of the -United States, residing at Los Angeles and Pasadena, respectively,'in the countyof Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Street-Sweeper, of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to improvements in street sweepers cient vehicle street. sweeper which is con-- structed .so thata commercial vehicle, preferably a motorcycle, may be employed as the propelling, operating and supporting medium for the street sweeping means.

Another object of this invention is to provlde a frame construction for a street sweeper which will permit of the attachment of a vehicle frame thereto and-the use of the motive power ofthe vehicle for the operation of the street sweeping means in a reliable and effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a means for eliminating scattering of dust during the sweeping operation which will cause all of the dust and rubbish swept up by a rotary brush forming part of the device to be deposited within receptacles carried by the sweeper.

A further object is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of street sweepers of the type hereinbefore described so as to render them inexpensive to manufacture, relatively light in weight and thoroughly efficient in operation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the" invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sweeper with the inventlon.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the sweeper shown for'the most-part in section with the vehicle frame illustrated in dotted lines and the sweeping means shown in out-'of-the-way position.

Fig. 3is a top. sweeper.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view being broken away.- in part moved from thevehicle frame.

plan View of the entire.

of the sweeper motorcycle frame, of the type embodied in ourh Patents #1,256,561, granted Feb. 16, 1918,

"and #1,254,803, granted Jan. 29, 1918.

thereof a brace bar 24 secured to and shown re- Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the sweeper with one of the doors broken away to show the rubbish and dust receptacle; and

1g. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail perspective view of the brush supporting frame and brush operating elements.

Referring to the drawings, vehicle frame which,'in this instance, is a and supports a motor 2, luggage carrier 3, steering means or handle bars 4, seat 5 and rear wheel 6. It will be noted that the vehicle frame is not changed 1n construction, but the front wheel for the frameis removed to permit of the attachment to the street sweeper, as will be later more fully described.

main frame 7 comprising bars 8 is connected with the vehicle frame 1, the bars 8 being located upon opposite sides of the vehicle frame ends by strap members 9 with the rear end of theframe 1. These bars 8 extend upwardly and outwardly away from the frame 1 to points considerably in advance of the frame and at their forward ends are secured at 10 to the sides of a substantially rectangular frame 11 adapted for supporting rubbish receiving means. The frame 11 comprises upper and lower horizontal bars 12 and 13 which are joined at their ends by vertical bars 14. Wheels 15 and 16 are connected by steering knuckles 17 and brackets 18 with the bars 14 and support the frame 11. The

bar 13 is considerably shorter than the one lar barj23 carried by the steering means 4 of the vehicle frame 1.

and connected at their rear- 1 designates a Theframe 7 is suitably'reinforced, there the ends the bars 8 by anglemembers 25. The frame 1 is connectedwith the bar 24 as at 25'. Extendbelng provided. intermediate ing rearwardly from and-connected with the bar 24j at points on opposite sides of the center thereof are brace rods 26 which are connected at their rear ends as at 27 with the bars 8 at points near the rear ends of sald bars 8. It is between these rods 26 that the vehicle frame is located.

Connected with and depending from the main frame 7 is a brush supporting frame 28 which comprises adjustable sectional brush supporting arms 29 which are mounted for swinging movement at their upper ends upon a horizontal shaft The shaft 30 is mounted in bearings 31 secured to and depending from the bars 8. A brace rod 32 is mounted between and connected w1th the arms 29 to give suitable rigidity to'the frame 28. A rotary cylindrical brush 33 is mounted between the arms 29 and connected with the lower-ends thereof, there being provided trunnions 34, at the ends of the brush, which extend through the lower ends of the arms 29.

There is provided means for raising and lowering the brush which comprises a lever 35 pivoted atits lower end at 36 to one of the bars 8 of the main frame 7 at a polnt upon one side of the vehicle frame. A notched quadrant 37 is secured to said bar 8, and lever locking means 38 is carried by the lever and co'ciperates with the quadrant 37. A horizontal shaft 39 is mounted in suitable bearings 40 carried by the bars 8 of the frame "7 and extends across said frame parallel or adjacent to the brace bar 24. A rocker arm 41 is connected with the shaft 39 and extends downwardly therefrom. A rod or link 42 is pivotally connected as at 43 with the rocker arm 41 and is pivoted as at 44 to the lever 35 intermediate the ends of said lever so that upon the a shifting ofthe lever a rotary motion will be given the shaft 39. Extending rearwardly and downwardly from the ends of i and secured to the shaft-39 are arms 45, the rear ends of which are pivotally connected as at 46 to the upper ends of rods 47. The rods 47 are secured as at 48 to the brush supporting'arms 29 near the lower ends of said arms whereby upon the upward movement of the arms 45 an upward pull will be com-- municated to the arms 29 through the rods 47 and the brush supporting "frame and brush will be lifted into out-of-the-way position.

There is provided a driving means for operating the brush 33 and other parts of the device which will be later more fully 'described, which comprises a clutch sprocket 49 connected with suitable clutch means 50 operatively associated in the customary manner with the motor 2 of the vehicle.

Suitable means 51 is provided for operating the clutch and a catch member 52 serves to hold the means 51 inoperative position. Mounted in a bearmg 53 which is carried upon the rear face of the bar 24 is a sprocket 54 and a chain 55 is mounted upon the sprockets 49 and 54. Mounted in a bearing 56 extending rearwardly from the bar 24 and in a bearmg 57 carried upon one of the rods 26 is a horizontal shaft 58 carrying a sprocket 59 which meshes with the lower half of the chain 55, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This arrangement provides for a reversal of the direction of rotation of the shaft 58 as compared to the direction of rotation of the sprockets 49 and 54. The shaft 30 has a sprocket 60 fixed thereto and a chain 61 is mounted upon said sprocket and upon a sprocket 62 which is fixed to the shaft 58. Fixed to the ends of the shaft 30 are sprockets 63 having chains 64 mounted thereon. These chains 65 that are fixed to the outer .ends of the 'trunnions 34 of the brush 33. It will be noted that the sprockets 49 and 54 are 1'0- tated counter-clockwise andthat it is necessary to rotate the brush 33 in a clockwise direction'in order to provide for an effective sweeping action. By having the sprocket 59 engaged with the under side of the chain 55, the shaft 58,sprocket 62, sprockets 60, 63, 65 of the brush 33 are rotated clockwise.

A cooling fan 66 is rotatably mounted upon a bracket 67 fixed tothe bar 24 and is operated by pulleys 68 and 69 fixed to the fan and shaft 30 respectively, there being provided a belt 70 for operatively connecting said pulleys. The fan 66 is positioned so that it will force air upon and cool the motor of the vehicle.

A semicylindrical dusthood 71 is mount ed over the brush 33 in close relation thereto and fixed to the arms-29 to prevent the brush from scattering dust. In addition to this means for preventingthe scattering of dust there is provided a cover 72 which consists of side portions 73 secured to and depending from the bars '8 of the frame 7,

the forward ends of the side portions being cutaway and curved as at 7 3' so as to lie close to the wheels 15 and 16. The upper forward ends of the side portions of the covering are secured to the frame lland said The lower edges of the side and back portions 73 and 74 of the cover 72 may,'if desired, be provided .With flexible strips 76.

- h h-madam.ma ma; ground; off

I S rfa e t be 1 swept and I I hers-8O which. are "secured; to .the barsi8 and I extend downwardly-and inwardly therefrom connected with the bar: 7 9. elements '81aregsey l" jover the I topoints? where tively dust-tight covering. I

' -Mountedlupon the-bar 13 of-theifframel'llq and extending forwardly*rearwardlygfroin I I plate"? 7 for supporting the rubbishreceivln consists of two said' bar: is. a-

exible "bags or similar re cepltacles An 1s, old in supporting position by strapl'mem- Su orting or. bracin cured to ;t h ej plate 7 I extend rrearw'ardly bar 79.:and are a bar 24za's' iat 82.5 Mounted upon a suitable for.-the pump and I An elongatedsuction member 87;,is, con 1 25 t 1 of the member 87 is located in front and adjacentto that the rubbish and dust swept up by the v I I 112 and 13 havmg 4 a common hinge 114 and held in position and of the base 83 supported on .fithe plate 77 J and bar I 7 9 'is az rotary exhaust bar 24;-.

nected wi the elbow and 1sopen along; its

lower long sidefor the entire length thereof, such lengthbeingisubstantially equal t'othat of the brush 33. This member 87"is-sup- I ported b -hangers 88,.89Lconnected with the.

ars8 and straps 80." Theglower open' side the lower side of;th'e;bru sh 33 so brush will be deposited or "drawn .intO the member SY. AI loose flexible strip 89" is [secured along the upper edge, of the; open end ofithemember stand to the" adjacent; 2nd of ,o the "-hood' i 1 to prevent the ---rubbish 1 rom brush; l.

to insure of its'beingjsucked through the member 87, as

described, av means carried upon. the lower end of the member '87 and adaptedtore" cei-ve the rubbish swept up: by the brush :iS used. This means "comprises a rectangular: strip or plate 90 which is] hinged as .at 91 to the lower edge of the open side of the member, 87, the width'of-this plate I being such as will proximate closing of th lower end of said member 87. A horizontalshaft 92 is rotatably mounted in bearings 93 provide for the ape opening in the that are carried on the supporting elements .81 and downwardly and 'rearwardly extend lower ends of the arms 94 andwith the ends 7-97 which extendsrearwardly and upwardly provide acompara means which preferably 7 effect o angle: r g bar" 7 9 com rises" a SPr connected with. the, a

Y; 1 I distrib itihg-chamber106 which pumpjt84 'having 'an intake-elbow 85 extendin" outwardly I from'one side thereof and braced up rod 86 whichis I i be :a .take-; connectedwith t e casingn a 106 n r 'v closed by caps 110. :-ceptacl'e s 78 ma I be doo'rs are 'b ulged outwardly accommodateth eireceptacles78. v I -JL The clutchxmeans and brush 33 are-norf 'beingj thrownaupwardly I fromijthe; mally in inoperative positions, the-brush be- [a 2 a i hing'held spaced from the ground, asshown provide for'the catching oftherubbish will be later more fully mg arms 94 are fixed vto the ends of the shaft 92. Links 95 are connected with the plate 90 so as to support the plate II lever. B pull' he'brush will beli'fte sl to cause the arms ment of the plate 90.

5 Theffmeansiigr operating the pump '84 sha 102 o'ftheQp im .A "chain 103 is mounted-upon;the ,sprocketi l02 and upon a sprocket 1O4 fiiiedf tOEthe shaft 30. Upon ro- I tation of theilsha ft 3Q; wliich' causes the-oper- =ation of the ,brujs'h 33;thezpump184 will o crate .to,create: a*suction in the member 8%.

An-outlet Hipe-i-mQjfor the pump 84is con t a gdiist separatin and rubbish has two outlets'106f communicatingwiththe receptacles 78 and two Fdus'tfpout ets: 107 which. have connected therewith. removably secured to porous dustbiig'sgJ-l08 The receptacles 78ji'are' inspection" .jof: the receptacles may be -made without. removingth'em. The receptacles lie in flanged-p ir-ah the lever 35 'interulled upwardly and ket 101-mountedupon a the ansf'-"-'111' and are mounted upon beseen that the shaft "cover membeEsQIOQbyfstrapS 109.,5the1cover V the plate I :7 7 ,-.an'd{ these openings 7 1 10-, are

gage carrier 3 Y asshown inthe drawings.

" he front of by latches" 115. These A supply ofthese re-- carried" upon the ,lug- Y the sweeper is closed by doors 3 1 10o asat -116- sow-as to in Fig. 2;:ofthe; drawings. -To lower the I vbrush into sweepingposition, thelever 35 is released andpushed forwardly pushing-the rod 42 whie'zh isconnected with the rocker arm 41'andi ca usingthe shaft 39 to be rotat edyclockwisei-This rotation of the shaft moves the 'arms 45 downwardly and as. saidarms are connected with the brush through rods '47, the" brush will be lowered, The

'clutchoperating, member 51 is then pushed it I is automatically en-- sprocket 65' and brush 33. a The tension of ment of the sectional arms 29 which support the brush; At the time that the clutch means 50 is allowed to operate, the pump 84 the chain 64 may be regulated by the adj u'stis operated through the sprocket 104, chain 103 and sprocket 101. As the brush rotates, the rubbish and dust swept up thereby will be thrown upon the plate 90 at the lower end of the suction member 87 and into said suction member wherein the suction will cause the rubbish anddust to be drawn into the pump 84 and forced into the member 106. The rubbish received in the member 106 will be directed into the receptacles 105, whereas the dust will be blown through the discharge openings 107 into the porous dust bags 108. The air blown into the receptacles 78 will escape through the screened outlet openings 110',and will not be dustladen upon escapement owing to the screens. This is also true of the escapement of the air from the bags 108. In order to suck the rubbish and dust collected in the lower end of the receptacles 87 and from the plate 90 into the pump 84 the operator grasps the lever 35 and moves it rearwardly causing-a pull on the rod 92 and the rocker arm 96 to rotate the shaft 95. This pulls upwardly on the arms 94 and links 95, causing the plate 90 to 'be moved into closing or semiclosing position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and the brush to be raised. This creates a greater suction at the lower end of the member 87 and all particles ofrubbish and dust will be sucked into the'pump 84 and blown into the receptacles therefor.

Should the brush 33 encounter an obstruction during the sweeping operation, it will move upwardly owing to the rearwardly and downwardly inclined arms 29 mounted upon the shaft 30. The inclination of the arms 29 provides for the upward or downward movement of the brush to permit it to engage in sinks or depressions or to ride over bumps in the road or pavement, thus providing for a thorough sweeping action on rough as well as smooth streets. As. the

brush wears down the arms 29 may be let out so as to insure a'reliable contact of the brush with the street and to cause the brush to remain at same relation to the member 87. The relation of the brush to the mem ber 87 is essential since the rubbish swept up by the brush must be directed into the open end of the member 87 to insure a proper operation of the machine. y

We claim: v a

1. In a street sweeper, a brushfsupporting frame, a rotary brush mounted upon the frame, means to rotate the brush, a dust hood mounted over and covering the upper frame, a rotary sweeping brush mounted on the frame, means to rotate said brush, a suction member having one end located adjacent to and in advance of the brush, means to create a suction in said suction member, a dust hood mounted over and covering the upper portion of the brush, and a flexible strip secured to the suction member and hood. I Y

8. A street sweeper comprising 'a brush supporting frame, a rotary brush carried by the frame, a suction member havingone end open and located to receive rubbish swept up by the brush, means to open and close the open end of said suction member, rubbish receptacles, means to create a suction in said member anddeposit rubbish into the receptacles, means-to 'raise and lower the brush supporting frame, a hood carried by said brush supporting frame and extending over the upper side. of the brushyand a flexible strip secured to the suction member and hood to prevent rubbish swept up by the brush from being thrown above the open end of the suction member.

4. In a street sweeper,'a brush supporting frame, means to rotate the brush, a suction member having one end open and located to receive rubbish swept up by the brush, a plate hinged to the lower edge of the open end of said member and adapted to be moved up or down to effect the opening or closing of said open end, means for controlling the movement of the plate, and 

